FIG. 9.

Extraneural manifestations of P. neurophilia infection. H&E. Scale bar=50 μM. (A) Notochord remnants in vertebrae contain large intracytoplasmic PC (white arrows). This is an uncommon, but not rare, presentation of P. neurophilia infection. (B) Granulocytic myositis occasionally contains free spores (circled cluster of black spots) and is commonly adjacent to nerve roots either containing PC or surrounded by granulocytic inflammation (black arrows) extending from a meninxitis. (C) Animals with P. neurophilia infection will frequently have noninflammatory myodegeneration. This manifestation is chronic, resulting in muscle atrophy and loss, with increased space between myocytes. (D) Myodegeneration without inflammation can also occur acutely or subacutely with the loss of cross-striation in myocytes, the formation of contraction bands, and cytoplasmic fragmentation.